Dark Knight Rises is just one of several noteworthy 2012 releases competing for attention right now – alongside fast-approaching movies like Underworld Awakening, which is hoping to become a reasonable hit during the January slow season. Today, we have even more hi-res images from both of these franchise installments.

The Dark Knight Rises

Thanks to the aforementioned new footage released from star Christian Bale’s (purported) final outing as the Caped Crusader, fans and detractors of Nolan’s Dark Knight saga have been actively analyzing and carrying on about the latest Batman movie (in ways both good and bad). Truth be told, speculation about Dark Knight Rises has been in a heightened state ever since certain plot details were revealed in an edition of Empire Magazine, from back in November 2011.

Today, we have a handful of hi-res Dark Knight Rises images that were originally exclusive to said magazine edition – and thus, were only available in scanned form prior to now (with the exception of Nolan working with an IMAX camera). Among the pics included here is a new profile image of Tom Hardy as Bane, and one with Batman wielding that strange glowing weapon first glimpsed on the aforementioned Empire Magazine cover.

Check out those Dark Knight Rises pics (and more) below:

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Underworld Awakening

Multiple promotional images, extended TV spots, and trailers for the fourth Underworld film have been released over the past few weeks – with the intention being to get moviegoers excited for the fantasy/action flick and remind them why they love this franchise so much in the first place (see: leading lady Kate Beckinsale in her iconic black leather outfit, pummeling her enemies into submission).

The latest batch of Underworld Awakening pics likewise focuses on Beckinsale as Selene, looking sexy and ready to kill anyone (or anything) that gets in her way. There are also some additional images of the lady vampire’s fellow supernatural warriors, and Michael Ealy’s human detective character.

Have a look at all that in the Underworld Awakening gallery below:

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Underworld Awakening will be released in 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D theaters around the U.S. on January 20th, 2012.

The Dark Knight Rises hits regular and IMAX theaters in the U.S. on July 20th, 2012.